Automatic stabilizing apparatus for aeroplanes.



e. U. MULLER. AUTOMATIG STABILIZING APPARATUS FOR AEROPLANES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1911.

Patented July 16, 1912.

3 SHEBTS-SHBET 1.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS G. U. MULLER. AUTOMATIC STABILIZING APPARATUS FORAEROPLANES. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1911 Patented July 16, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. U. MULLER. AUTOMATIC STABILIZING APPARATUS FOR ABROPLANBS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1911.

Patsnted July 16,1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

- INVENTOR WITNESSES :1 A PA GOTTLIEB U. MULLER, OF.PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA.

Application filed September 27, 1911.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July '1 G. 19115.

Serial No. 651.503.

ing device Which is sensitive, accurate anddependable and whereby theefi'ect of sudd-en currents of air, eddies and the like are overcome ina positive manner and the clanger of the plane being overturned iseliminated.

As heretofore constructed the stabilizing planes have been controlledentirely by the operator of the machine and it has therefore beennecessary to divide attention between the manipulating of these planes,controlling the motor and steerin By my present invention the operatoris relieved of the care of the balancing or stabilizing planes, Whichare automatically adjusted to return the machine to normal levelposition and consequently the operator may give entire attention toother details of managing the machine.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I haveshown in theaccompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present. preferred byme, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory andreliable results, although it is to be understool that the variousinstrumentalities of which my invention consists 'an be variouslyarranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to theprecise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities asherein shown and described.

liigure 1 represents a plan of a stabilizing device embodying myinvention as applied to an acroydane, the latter being showndiagrammatically. Fig. represents an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3represents a side elevation oi the operating portion of my novel device.Fig. 4 represents a sectional detail of the automatic actuatingmechanism. lfii 5represents a view similar to Fig. 3 taken fromtheopposite side. Fig. 6

one pair being located in the circuit represents a section on line .r-zrof Fig. 3.

Fig. '7 represents a perspective detail of one of the actuating pawls.

Similar numerals of reference indicate. correspi'mding parts in thefigures.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a-level of any suitable typepreferably comprising a tube 2 having its ends :Ltllttl by suitableinsulating material. 3 and mounted in posts 4. Each of the posts a isprovided with an aperture or recess adapted to receive the terminal ofaconductor here dcnoted respectively by the reference numerals 6 and 7and which is secured or clamped by the binding screws 8. A secondbinding screw 9 is threaded into each post i and passes interiorly ofthe tube 2 where it terminates a determined distance above the surfaceof a fluid 10 such as mercury or the like, capable of conducting acurrent of electricity. terminal of an independent electric circuitpreferably having a common source of sup ply such as the magneto orbattery ll of which circuits the binding screw 12 forms the otherterminal. This binding screw 19, as here shown, is threaded into asupporting block 13 and passes through a suitable bushing 14:, servingas apacking, into the tube 2 and contacting at all times with theconductor fluid 10. It will. thus be apparent when the tube 2 assunies aposition other than the horizontal that the fluid 10 will flow to oneend or the other of the same and thus close a circuit in which the automatic actuating mechanism is located. This actuating mechanism embodiesin the pres ent instance a plurality of magnets. designated respectivelyby reference nunu-rals '15. l6, l7 and .18, arranged. preterably inpairs. 4 ot which the conductor 6 forms a part, while the other pair isin the circuit of conductor 7. Thus one circuit comprises binding post 9on one end of tube 2, conductor (3, magneto or battery ll, magnets 15and to in series, binding post 1: and fluid conductor 1.0, while theother circuit is tormed by the other post i), conductor T, and magnets17 and 18. the other parts beiugcounnou to the two circuits. As hereshown, the magnets 15 and 17 are mounted on a plate 1!) suitably sccuredby fastening devices (not shown) passing through the cars 20, to a fixedportion of the machine or engine frame asmost convenient, whereby theyare Thus, the screws 9 each form the screw or equivalent means.

plate 19 preferably has a hub 21 formed integral therewith, by means ofwhich other component parts of the actuating mecha nismare supported.

22 designates a disk or disksegment having a journal 23 secured theretoand preferably bered out for the sake of lightness; the said journal 23having a hearing within the hub 21, and being retained by a collar 24,threaded on the 'end and locked by a set The disk segment 22 is adaptedtooscillate with respect to the plate 19, movement being transmittedthereto by means of a connecting rod 26 secured atone end to a suitablepartof the said disk, such as the ear 27, andat the other end to aneccentric 28 on the motor shaft or like part adapted to causereciprocation of the said rod.

29 designates a sheave rotatably mounted on thehub 21 and held againstlateral movement by'the plate 1.9 on one side and the disk 22 on theother, while movement is transmitted thereto, in the present instance,by means of a double row of gear teeth 30 cut on the internalcircumference of the sheave, The teeth 30, as will be noted, do notextend entirely around the sheave surface and thereby the juxtaposedsurfaces 31 are formed, the function of which will presently appear. t

v 32 and 33 designate respectively actuating pawls, pivoted at 34 and 35to the'movable disk segment 22, each of which preferably as-formedintegral therewith anarmature 36 positioned in operative relation to therespective magnets 15 and 17, itof course being understood that thesepawls are adapted to cooperate at certain times with the teeth 30 of thesheave 29. v

37 designates a spring normallyengaging each of the pawls 32 and 33 andretained in position bya lug 38 of the disk 22. This spring, as will beapparent, operates to main tain the pawls out of engagement with theteeth 30 and its action is overcome by the pull of the magnets whenenergized. The :normal position of the pawls 32 and 33 is furthermorecontrolled by pins 39 and 40 located respectively in'the path ofmovement of each armature 36 and whereby undue outward movement of these'members is prevented. In view of the fact that the disk 22 iscontinually oscillating while the motor is running, it-'will be seenthat should one or the other of the magnets 15 and 17 be energized, thepawl adjacent thereto will be shifted and engage the teeth 30, therebyIn order. to

causing the sheave ,to rotate.

elfect such rotation and prevent the sheave 7 from oscillating withthe-disk 22, a pair of pawls 41 and 42 are pivotally mounted on thefixed plate 19, each being'located -ad-'- jacent one of the magnets 16and-.18 and of- V tion of these pawls and their relation to the magnets16 and 18 together with their cooperating adjuncts is the same as forthe previously described pawls 32 and 33 and it is therefore thoughtunnecessary to go into a detailed description thereof, the only point tobe noted being that they are secured to a fixed part instead of amovable part. The function of these pawls 41 and 42 is to lock thesheave after a movement has been transmitted thereto by one of themovable pawls, thereby effecting a step by step rotation of the sheave.As already explained, the magnet 16 is in the same circuit as the magnet15 and likewise the magnet 18 in the same circuitwvith the magnet 17 sothat energization of either pair of magnets'causes one actuating pawland one locking pawl to be operated. Thus when the magnets 15 and 16 areenergized their armatures 36 and 43 will be.

attracted and throw the pawls 32 and 41 the teeth 30 of the sheave 29.The pawl 32 being carried by the movable disk 22 operates in onedirection of movement to advance the sheave in that direction, but whenmoved in the opposite direction the inclined face thereof permits it tobe withdrawn from the teeth 30, and as the pawl 41 is held in mesh withthe teeth 30 the sheave remains stationary until the next forwardmovement of the pawl 32. One face of thefixedpawl 41 is so beveled as'topermit the sheave to slip past the same during the moving stroke of thepawl 32.

are provided to limit the rotation of the sheave in eitherdirectionQsince of course as soon as the same is brought into engagingposition with the pawls, the latter will simply reciprocate withoutcausing any further movement of the sheave.

45' designates the-usual stabilizing plane pivotally mounted at 46 ateach end of the aeroplane and to which I preferably secure a pluralityof cables 47, 48, 49 and 50, each of which passes over suitable guidepulleys 51 and around the sheave 29, to which the end of each cable isfixedly secured. As here shown, I preferably provide a spring 52 foreach cable 49 and 50, the said springs being connected at one end to theframe of the machine and at the opposite end to the respectivecablescontrolled thereby.

Attention is directed to the location of the level 1, since in thepreferred form of my invention, I attach the same directly to thesteering wheel 53, whereby operation of the said wheel causes the levelto be tilted and thus set the automatic actuating means into operation.The starting of this mechanism varies the position of the stabilizingplanes which of course tend to return the machine to a level positionand also prevent upsetting, while making a curve. The novel act-uatingmechanism for the stabilizing planes also makes it possible to vary thesweep of the machine in making a curve and the degree of inclinationvaries according as the curve has a short or a long radius. It will ofcourse be understood that the steering wheel 53 is the usual wheel foroperating the rudder of the machine and by which the direction of theaeroplane is changed at the will of the operator.

In the operation of the device no action takes place so lon as theaeroplane remains level, since the tu e 2 is then likewise level. andboth magnetcirciiits are broken, though of course the disk 22 isoscillating with the motor. As soon, however, as the machine tilts oneway or the other, the conductor fluid 10 flows to an end of the tube 2and th reby closes one of the circuits. This action energizes a pair ofthe actuating magnets which attract the armature of the pawl mechanismand the sheave is in consequence caused to begin a step by steprotation. The rotation of the sheave causes the stabilizing planes to beshifted tore turn the machine to its level position thereb Y a ainbreakin the circuit whereuion y b D 7 the cable springs return the partsto their normal operative positions.

Aeroplanes, as at present constructed, carry a'stabilizing device t holdthe living machine horizontal when dying straight and to incline themachine when making a .sweep, but this has to be done manually and is attimes confusing to the operator. by my construction it is possible to doall of this automatically. 1 have shown, in the present instance, alevel device mounted on -.the steering wheel 53 in a horizontalposition, preferably on a line with the planes, so that by turning thesteering wheel to one side or the other to make a sweep, the level willtravel around with the wheel the same number of degrees, and be on anangle to the planes. As the level tends to bring itself horizontal itwill swing the planes around until the horizontal position is reachedand the planes and the level come into parallel relation. In practice Iprefer to connec the automatic stabilizing control so that thestabilizing planes may be operative at the will of the operator ifdesired. A suitable switch in the magnet circuit makes it possible tocut out the auton'iatie control when desired and allow the planes to becontrolled by the customary manual means.

It will In W be apparent that l have devised a complete, unitarystructure automatic in its operation, simple in construction andefficient as a means to relieve the operator of an areoplane from theburden oil manuallv operating the balancing planes whenever the nnchineis tilted or thrown out of level position.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and usefulconstruction ot'an automatic stabilizing apparatus for aeroplanes whichembodies the features of adantage enpmerated as desirable in thestatement of the invention and the above description and while I have,in the present instance, shown and described a preferred embodimentthereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory andreliable results, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible ofmodification in various particulars without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an areoplane, stabilizing planes therefor, mechanism for varyingthe position of the stabilizing planes, a pair of magnets movablymountedadjacent said mechanism, a second pair of magnets, fixedly mountedadjacent said mechanism, independent means controlled by each magnetforengaging said varying mechanism for actuating the same, means tooscillate said movable magnets, and means actuated by the inclination ofsaidaeroplanes for ener-; gizing simultaneously one movable magnet andone fixed magnet.

2'. In an aeroplane, stabilizing pl..nes therefor, cables secured tosaid planes, a' sheave to which said cables are secured, gear teeth onsaid sheave, a magnet movably mounted adjacent said sheave, a pawlcontrolled by said magnet and adapted to engage said teeth, a secondmagnet fixedly mounted adjacent said sheave, a pawl controlled therebyand adapted to engage said teeth, means to oscillate said movable magnetand its pawl, and means actuated by the inclination of said aeroplanetor energizing said magnets.

3. In an aeroplane, stabilizing planes therefor, cables-secured to saidplanes, a sheave to which said cables are secured, gear teeth on saidsheave, a pair of magnets movably mounted adjacentsaid sheave, a. pawlcontrolled by each magnet and adapted. to engage said teeth, a secondpair of magnets fixedly mounted fl(l ;:;((l)tsaid sheave, a pawlcontrolled by each magnet and adapted to engage said teeth, means tooscillate said movable magnets and he pawls controlled thereby, andmeans aetua ted by the inclination of said aeroplane for energizingsimultaneously one movable magnet. and one fixed magnet.

,4. In an aeroplane, stabilizing planes therefor, cables secured to saidplanes, a

I Copies of this patent may be obtained for tuate said fpawls in pairs,andmeans governed by the inclination of said aeroplane for automaticallyactuating said means.

1 GOTTLIEB'U. MULLER.

Witnesses: ROBERT M. BARR, G. D. MOVAY.

sheave to which said cables are secured, a plate fixedly securedadjacent said sheave, pawls carried by said plate, gear teeth on saidsheave adapted to be engaged by said pawls, a disk movably mountedadjacent said sheave, pawls carried by said disks adapted to engage saidteeth, means to acfive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ofPatents, Washington. I). 0.?

